Peñafrancia Pilgrim City

Since last year, there have been calls to declare Naga City as a "Pilgrim City" to facilitate the celebration of the 300^th year of our devotion to Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Unfortunately, the Robredo administration then shot down such a declaration for supposedly being a violation of the separation of Church and State. Of course, that was just an excuse since our local Church has been at loggerheads with then Mayor Robredo as regards city-sponsored commercialism during Peñafrancia like street parties and beer-drinking fests.

Anyway, reliance on Church-State separation is misplaced. Rather, the proposal for Naga to be declared a "Pilgrim City," as such name obviously suggests, should be viewed in the context of freedom of religion and belief of THE PEOPLE. This basic human right is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which provides that: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance." (Art. 18) (Emphasis ours) This right is also reiterated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the Philippines is a State Party.

More specifically, our Constitution guarantees full respect for human rights. And freedom of religion and worship is a protected right under Articles 132 and 133 of the Revised Penal Code and Articles 26 (4) and 32 of the Civil Code.

Thus, by local ordinance, Naga may be declared and also officially referred to and promoted as the "Peñafrancia Pilgrim City" to aid in the protection and strengthening of the people's enjoyment of freedom of belief and religion and its contribution to human development in furtherance of the local and national interest. And consistent with the cherished value of Filipino hospitality, the City should provide such necessary support and assistance to all pilgrims coming to Naga in September this year and every year thereafter for a truly meaningful celebration, worship and observance of the devotion to Ina.

The Naga City Government may then be directed to:

1.       Enhance peace and order through deployment of additional police and security personnel;

2.       Protect the people and all pilgrims against the commission of crimes against religious worship as penalized under the Revised Penal Code, which provides thus:

Art. 132. Interruption of religious worship. - The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon any public officer or employee who shall prevent or disturb the ceremonies or manifestations of any religion.